First
Issues 1850-51
and aspects of first issue collecting
Bexley
Philatelic Society 8 page Traditional 1840-1936 2nd November 2007
I am delighted to say that I came second, one point behind
an admittedly impressive display of GB Bantam 1/2d stamps
In the Society's February 2007 Thematic competition I displayed First Issues
1840-49 (see reverse
for thumbnails). It is possible to argue that today's entry is
thematic rather than traditional, but at a rate of one display of eight pages
per year, it will take until 2041 to show the collection (up to Mayreau and the
separated Montenegro and Serbia in 2006) and so I am aiming for three displays
each year to improve progress.
The nine years from the Penny Black in May 1840 until 1849 saw issues from Great
Britain, Brazil (1843), the Swiss Cantons of Zurich and Geneva (1843) and Basel
(1845), the USA and Mauritius (1847), then France, Belgium and Bavaria (1849).
This is a good place to note that the first issues of some
countries are prohibitively expensive and are therefore illustrated by
subsequent commemorative issues.
The main factors holding back developments in other countries were the extent of
demand for postal services (a measure of literacy rates) and the complexity of
organisation required, but by 1849 the advantages and prestige of a standardised
postal service were becoming clear. There was a steady stream of countries and
colonies to follow. In each of the next three years, around ten postal entities
issued their first recognised stamp.
1840-50
Up
Next
1852-53
